Taylor Carbaugh-Jackson is a 2002 graduate of Sterling High School. She earned varsity letters in volleyball, basketball, and track. Academically, Taylor was named to the NCIC All-Academic First team six times. As a three-year starter for the Golden Warrior girls basketball team, Taylor was a part of two NCIC championships, three IHSA Regional championships, and an IHSA Sectional finalist team. The three-year record for those teams was 75-18. Taylor served as captain in her junior and senior seasons and still ranks second in all-time field goal percentage in a season (56.6%). In her track career, Taylor was a two-year captain for the Warriors. She was an NCIC shot put champion in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. At the IHSA State Track Meet, Taylor collected three shot put medals and earned All-State First team recognition for each of her performances: eighth as a sophomore, second as a junior, and fourth as a senior. She narrowly missed a state medal in the discus her senior year, landing in 11th place. Taylor set and still holds the SHS girls shot put record with a throw of 41'7". Upon graduation, Taylor attended Illinois State University and competed as a member of the Redbird track team. Some of her field event highlights include the following: fifth in the shot put at the Illinois Open, sixth in the shot put at the Calhoun Memorial Invitational, first in the hammer throw at the Vanderbilt Invitational, a NCAA Mideast Regional Qualifier in the shot put, seventh in the shot put at the MVC Indoor Championships, second in the shot put at the Indiana State Invitational, first in the shot put at the Big Blue Classic at EIU, eighth in the shot put at the MVC Outdoor Championship. Today, Taylor and her husband, Mark, live in Sterling with their two sons, Luke and Noah, and their daughter, Emily. She teaches U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History at SHS.